Pattern mechanism for circular rib knitting machines



N. LEVIN May 30, 1933.

PATTERN MEGHANISM FOR CIRCULAR RIB KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 26, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet l N. LEVIN PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR RIB KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 26, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 30, 1933. N. LEWN 1,911,698

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR RIB KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 26, 1951 8 Sheets-Shes?I 3 Znwentor (ttorneg 'May 3o, 1933. N, LEWN 3,911,698

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR RIB KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 26, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Brmentor l (tforneg May 30. 1933. NA LEViN 1,911,698

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR RIB KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 26, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 :Snventor Zea/0)@ (Ittorneg .May 30, 1933.

N. LEWN 1,911,698

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR RIB KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 26, 1931 SSheets-Sheet 6 I l l J l l lmventor attorney May 30, 1933. N. LEVIN 1,911,698

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR RIB KNITTING MACHINES Filed 1mg. 2e, 1931 8 sheets-sheet 7 l'mventor Cttorneg May 3.0, 1933. N. I EvlN 1,911,698

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR RIB KNITTING MACHINES vFiled Aug. 26, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 :Snventor 717m ldt/'Wl (ttorneg Patented May 30, 1933l y UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE NATHAN LEVIN, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO H. BRINTON COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA PATTERN MECHANIS'M FOR CIRCULAR RIB KNITTING: MACHINES I Application filed August 26, 1931. Serial No. 559,579. f

My said invention relates to a pattern mechanism and it is an robject of the inventionto provide a pattern mechanism controlled by a card or band of paper or other suitable material, which mechanism embodies various features of advantage, such as simplicity of construction, certainty of control of parts, direct and positive actuation, etc., all as will appear from the subjoined description. i

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved element in the nature of a detent for certain actuating devices combined with a eeler for the pattern card.

My pattern mechanism is particularly advantageous in connection withthe contr-ol of a circular multiple-feed rib knitting machine and it has been illustrated in connection with elements of such a machine but it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is no't limited to the control of such 'a machine but may be used in various' other relations. o p

eferring to the drawings, which are made a part of this application and in which sim-- ilar reference characters indicate similar parts.

' Fig.'1 1s a plan of my improved mecha.

nism as applied to a machine of the charac,-

ter above indicated, A .Y

Fig. 2, an elevation of the same viewed from the right; i. e., the bottom of' the sheet in Fig.y 1,

Fig. 3, a similar elevation viewed from the left; i. e., the top of the sheet in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4, an elevation viewed from the front of the machine; i. e.,.the foot of the sheet in Fig. 1, with parts omitted,

Fig. '5, a vertical section shown in Fig. 1, l

Fig. 6, a similar view withparts in a different position, l

Fig. 7, a view similar to Fig. 5 with parts in still another position,

Fig. 8, a plan of controlling means for dial and cylinder cams, said figure also illustrating certain of the cams in one of their positions,

Fig; 9, an interior elevation of cylinder needle cams,

through parts Fig. 16, a detail 'of apart of the pattern band, which may be of paper or other suitable material. ,i

In the drawings, reference character 20 indicates the stationary table or base of a circular knittingv machine having a rotary cam ring 21 on which are located four standards 22 (Fig. 8) for supporting acrossbar carrying the usualdial post for the dial indicated at 22 in which are located needles 22 coacting with cylinder needles 23 in the needle cylinder 24', the dial needles being actuated by 4cams on the dial cam cap 23. ASaid standards 22 also support the ta-` ble carrying the yarn bobbins for making the fabric.

The cylinder needle'fcams include stitch cams 24, needle elevating cams 25 for clear' ing the latches prior -to taking yarn, a special needle elevating latch-clearing cam 26 ata point where-no yarn is fed, a cast-off cam 27 (which last two-named `cams may be omitted as hereinafter described) and other conventional guard cams, etc., as usual in machines of this type. The dial cam cap carries a needle projecting cam 28 movable to a welt position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8 or to an intermediate tuck position, a needle advancing cam 29, a dial stitch cam 29 and other guard cams, etc., as usual. l

The controllmg mechanism for the various conventional cams above referred to includes vmeans whereby the needle elevating cam 25 may be held in either knitting position or tuck position, said means comprising a post 30 to which the cam is secured (Figs. 8, 14 and 15). This post has` secured thereto an outwardly projecting arm 31 Ahaving a cam 'face at 32 whereby the post may be raised by actuating meanshereinafter described, in opposition to the action of a spring 33, which 5 normally holds theI cam down in the tuck position. A detent pivoted at 34 has a low face at and a high face at 36 for engagement with a finger 37 on the arm 31. A spring 38 tends to force the detent 33 outward into a position where the face 36 supports the finger 37 and connected parts in the knitting position of cam 25.

The corresponding needle projecting cam 28 on the dial at the feed now being described is of the type in which the needles are positively moved inward to the tuck or welt position with the pivoted cam, said cam having for this purpose a needle path 39 and therefore the movement toward the welt position must be in two steps to prevent the formation of holes in the fabric, as would occur if these needles were moved immediately from knitting position to welt position where no yarn is taken by them. The controlling means for this cam includes a link 40 (Figs. 8 and 14) connected to a rockarm 41 on a shaft 42 about which is located a torsion spring 43 which tends to turn the shaf so as to move the cam 28 toward the welt p itlion. The shaft isl held against the action of the spring by a pair of latches 43 and 44, latch 44 holding the parts in a position corresponding to the knitting (or fully projected) position of the cam 28 Whereas the latch 43 is adapted to hold the parts in a position corresponding to the tuck position of said cam. The latches are journaled on a sub-shaft 46 and the Jlatch 44 includes an integral abutment while latch 43 includes an integral abutment 47 extending outwardly into the path of pattern elements hereinafter described for releasing the respective latches from a rockarm forming the inner end of a bent lever 47 ,adjacent the ylower end of shaft 42 and generally similar to rockarm 41. A torsion spring 48 is wound about shaft 46 and is attached to latch 44 for holding it in operative position in engage` ment with the lower rockarm of shaft 42. A similar spring 49 is in engagement with hook 43 for similarly holding it in such -operatives position. It will be evident that the latch 44 is to be released first, whereupon the dial needle cam 28 may move tothe tuck position I and thereafter the latch 43 is released to permit the cam to move to welt position. For

this purpose the lug 45 is lirst engaged by pattern mechanism hereinafter described and thereafter the lug 47 is engaged by another element of the pattern mechanism. The outwardly extending arm of bent lever 47 forms an abutment by engagement with which an element of the pattern mechanism restores the dial cam 28 to needle projecting position, whereupon the other arm of bent lever 47 is engaged by hook 44 and held in such position,

the hook 43 assuming the position shown in Fig. 8, so that it will hold the cam at knitting position whereas when latch 43 is released the latch 44 will be in a position to catch land hold the parts Withthe cam in tuck position. All the abutments mentioned are of course supported on the revolving cam ring. j

A special control is provided for lengthening the stitches on the cylinder needles at a feed where they are'to knit in making a welt, it being understood that the welt may be knit at more than one feed, in which case a similar means will be provided for controlling the stitch cams at such other feeds. The stitch lengthening means for the cam 24 (Figs. 8, 12) comprises a vertically movable support 50 having a radially extending arm 51 with an upper cam face at 52 and also having a circumferentially extending arm 53 with an opening through which. extends -a screw 54 about which is located a compression spring underneath said arm (not shown) said spring tending to raise the shaft 5() and the stitch cam into its normal position. A f

pair of shafts 55 and 56 are located adjacent post 50, one of said shafts carrying a rock-arm 57 with a bolt 58 in its outer end positioned to engage the 'cam at 52 and force the post 50 and its attached cam 24 downward to lengthen the stitches at the time when the dial needle cam is in welt position, at which time the stitches of the cylinder needles are drawn over the needle verge instead of being measured over the dial needles. The shafts 55 and 56 are connected by pinions 57 and 58, and are provided respectively with rockarms 59 and 60, these rockarms being at different elevations. It will be evident that if an element of pattern mechanism engages rockarm 59 and moves it clockwise in Fig. 8, the shaft 55 will be turned so as to move rockarm 57 clockwise and cause its bolt 58 to depress the post 50 and the attached the cylinder needles at this feed.

Subsequentengagement of another pattern A element with abutment 60 will move the bolt off the raised part at the outer end of arm 51, due to clockwise m ement of rockshaft 56 and consequent co rclockwise movement of rockshaft 55 by reason of interengagement of pinions 57 andQ58.

For controlling the special latch-clearing cam 26` to clear the latches of the cylinder needles prior to casting off for making a.

selvage welt, this cam is mounted on a post 61 (Figs. 8 and 13) which is normally forced downward by a spring 62 for holding the cam in the position of Fig. 9. This post is provided with a projecting arm 63 having at 64 a cam face forengagement by an element of pattern mechanism to raise the post and the cam into latch clearing position. lVhen the post is so elevated a detent 65 is moved clockwise about its pivot 66' by a spring 67 to carry a pin 68 underneath a face at 69 on the radially projecting arm 6T (which face is lower than the face at 70 against which the pin 64 normally rests). The pin 68 thereupon holds the posts 61 and the cam 26 in elevated position for clearing the latches of the cylinder needles at this point until a pattern element strikes the outwardly projecting portion of the detent to force it back against the v tension of its spring 67, whereupon the post and its `attached cam move vdownward to a position in which the cylinder needles are not elevated sufficiently to clear their latches.

In addition to the parts so far described the machine includes at each feed a yarn guide and a clamp and cutter for the yarn, it being necessary to remove the yarn from the needles when the feed is thrown out of action,'since otherwise the cylinder needles would continue to take theryarn, as they are at tuck position when not knitting, there being no welt position in this machine for the cylinder needles. For this purpose yarn controlling mechanism of the type shown in the patent to Larkin 1,359,258, November 16,

1929, is herein disclosed, said mechanism including a pair of posts 69 and 70 (Fig. 8) for supporting the mechanism shown in Figs. and 11. 0n these posts. is mounted a plate 71 to which is securedI an inclined plate 72 by means of an intermediate plate 73. The inclined plate has mounted thereon a yarn guide 74 pivoted at 75 and provided with a pair of abutments 76 and 77 for engagement by elements of the pattern mechanism, these abutments being located at different levels as shown in Fig. 11. The spring pressed detent 78 is adapted to engage either one of a pair of notches at 79 to hold the yarn guide in either its idle or its active position. rllhe inclined plate 72 has secured thereto a plate 80 to which is secured a bracket 81 carrying a pivot 82 for a movable shear blade 84 coacting with a fixed shear blade, as in said patent, these blades being held together by means of a compression spring 86. A laterally projecting guide plate 87 has an opening for a plunger 88 connected by a link 89'to a pivot 90 on the movable shearblade which is held normally in close-d position by a spring 91. When the yarn is to be put out of action a member of the pattern mechanism hereinafter described engages the plunger 88 to open the clamp and cutter. When the yarn guide now moves out of feeding position it carries its yarn into the open shear and upon release of the plunger 88 the spring` 91 will close the shear so as to sever the yarn and hold the free end of the supply yarn.

The various abutments above enumerated are arranged at did'erent heights, such that a pattern device located at the bottom of the stack to engage and release the latch 92 to unlatch the cylinder needle elevating cam.

can also strike latch 65 to unlatch 'clearing cam 26. The next higher abutment may engage arm 31l to raise the cylinder needle clearing cam 25.to latched position and may also strike latch 65 to unlatch clearing cam 26. The next abutment engages the cam face on arm 64 to raisecylinder needle clearing cam 26 to latched position. The. next pattern element strikes the abutment 47 of hook 43' to ypermit dial cam 28 to go to tuck position and also strikes arm 59 to depress the stitch cam 24 for lengthening the cylinder stitches in making a selvage welt. The fifth pattern element strikes abutment to release hook 44 and permit the dial cam to go to welt position. The sixth pattern element strikes arm 47 to move the dial cam 28 to knitting position and also strikes arm to move bolt 68 off the cam surface on arm 51 permitting the stitch cam 24l to assume normal knitting position. The seventh pattern element has no cooperating abutment in the machine illustrated but may be used for actuating abutments of other devices for special purposes. The eighth and ninth pattern elements engage abutment 77 and plunger 88 respectively to move the yarn finger 74 out of feeding position and to operate the clamp and cutter for cutting off the yarn and holding its free end, and the ninth pattern element at a later time engages abutment 76 to move the yarn finger back to feeding povsition.

At each of the feeds of a multi-feed knitting machine there will be provided mechanism such as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, includingl a bracket 100 attached to the machineframe 20. For engagement by a cam at each feed there is a lever 101 pivoted at 102 and having a roller at 103 (Figs. 1 and 4) for engagement by eachl of a series of cams 104l one for each feed secured tothe gear ring for rotation with said ring and with the cam ring. It will be noted that the advancing side of the camis formed as a-relatively gradual rise, While the remote side is more steeply pitched, it being necessary for the roller 103 and certain parts actuated by lever 101 to return to innermost position between successive feeds.

A housing indicated at 105 (Figs. 1, 2, 8, 5, 6, 7) is mounted onthe bracket 100, said housing bein secured to the bracket by bolts 107, said housing extending inward over the bed 20. The bracket 100is fastened to the side frame 106. Ait the inner end of the housing guide screws 108 extend from top to bottom thereof for guiding a group or stack of slides 109fto 117,- which slides are provided at their outer ends with suitable abutments for engagement with the respective lu s and arms shown in Figs. 12 to 15l these a utments in 'some instances having in- I are provided with projections indicated respectively at 123, 124, 125,126, 127, 128, 129, 1.30 and 131 (Fig. 2) each of these projections being individual to a particular one of the horizontal slides, so that any verticalslide thatis held in the position indicated in Fig. 2

l will hold the correspondingly' horizontal slide in the inward or operative position relatively to such abutments on the -cam ring as are ylocated at a level corresponding to that of such horizontal slide. -It will be noted that Fig." 2 shows a forward position of the vertical slides and Fig. 3, a rearward position. vThe vertical slides aremoved back war'd or outward'by springs 121 in the action I of such springs on the horizontal slides. For

moving them inward 1 providel a U-shaped rocker 132 pivoted at 133 and. having an. arm 134 extending downward below such pivot. A sprino' 132 moves the rocker counterclockwise. djacent its upper end the rocker is provided with a'plurality ofpins 135, one for each of the vertical slides and positioned for engagement therewith. These pins are preferably vscrew-threaded for adjustment and may be held in adjusted position by screws 136 (Fig. 2). At the lower end of arm 134 a substantially L-shaped push bar 137 is pivoted to the arm for movement into or out of position to be engaged and actuated by a pin 138. The pin v138 extends laterally from a collar 139 secured by a set screw 140 to a reciprocating bar 141 mounted in bearings at 142 and 143. At its inner end the .bar 141 is attached by a yoke 144 to lever 101 for moving the bar in one direction and. a spring 145 serves to hold the bar inits innermost position, said spring also holding the roller 103 against the periphery of the rotating member which carries the cams 104.

` It will be seen that each time a cam 104 I i passes a feed of the machine the reciprocat-v ing rod 141 will be moved outward due to the action of the lever 101 and will cause the rocker 132 to move the vertical slides inwardA if the push bar 137 is in position to be actuated by the pin 138 on the reciprocating'rod.

so.A

The factor just mentionedl and other mutable factors arev determinedfor each of the pattern mechanisms at the respective feeds by means of a pattern band 146 having pattern openings 147 (Fig. 16) in any desirable arrangement to produce the desired effects ybar 141 by set screw 166 or the like.

and also having driving apertures 148 along j 151 which rotation is frictionally resisted by a resilient spider 152. The pattern drum is driven by a ratchet 152 secured thereto and a pawl 154 forced toward the ratchet by a spring 155 engaging at .one end a pin 156 on a bracket 157 and secured at the other end to a pin 158 on the pawl. Thegpawl is pivot.- ally-supported upon a rockarm-'159 forming one arm of a bent pawl lever whose other arm is indicated at 160. Arm 160 carries a pin 161 adapted to rest either on a high face 162 or on a low face 163`of a plate 164 fixed to a collar165 which is securedl to the reciprocating 1t will be seen that in its outward movement the plate 164 elevates the pin 16,1 by means of the cam face between the two faces 162 and 163, thereby actuating the ratchet positively through the pawl 154, and that the spring 155'not only pulls the pawl 154 downl with the ratchet but also draws the bent lever in a direction to holdl its pin 160 down on theV plate 164.

F or determining which, if any, of the horizontally movable slides 109 to 117 shalll remain in its inner abutment-actuating position I provide a plurality ofv feelers 167 coacting with the'pattern'-band, each pivoted at 168 (Fig. 2) and each having a pin aty 169 (Figs. 5 to 7), which pins are preferably alined in correspondence with the alined openings in the pattern band at any of the pattern controlling positions of the band. vThe drum has annular grooves at 170 underneath the openings 147 in the pattern band, hence after each movement of the pattern band if the band has openings directly underneath the rowof pins 169, such pins can pass through the openings and permit the feeler to fall to the position indicated in Fig. 6 whereas ata point where there are no openings the feeler will remain in the position indicated in Fig. 5. To raise a pin 169 out of engagement with an 'opening in the band and also to prevent wear on the band because of pin 169 dragging on its surface I provide means for lifting the feelers into the position of Fig. 7, such means consisting of a paddle 171 pivoted at 172, said paddle extending across the row of feel- 'ers and having an inwardly extending arm 173. The arm and the paddle are rigidly attached to the spindle 172, as by a set screw 174. (Fig. 2.) The paddle is actuated on the inward or return movement of the reciprocating rod 141 by means of a cam face on a plate 175 to tilt the feelers about their pivot 168 against the tension of lsprings 176.

Th cam plate 175 is-ixed to the collar 139 so as to reciprocate with the rod 141, thus its lowest point, where the spring 176 is con-y nected to the feeler, whereby also said spring will pull the feeler down, i. e., cou'nterclockwise about its pivot. Another spring 179 is attached atv one end to this extension and at its other end to a detent'180 independently pivoted on the spindle 168 and adapted to engage at its forward end a shoulder '181 on one of the vertical slides 122, it being understood that there is one feeler and one detent for each of said slides. The feeler has a face at 182 upon which the detent rests at certain times. The feelers have their outer ends guided by a comb 183 (Figs. 2 and 4) for holding them in proper position. It will be seen that the paddle 171 moves all the feelers from the position of either Fig. 5 or Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 7 at each feed at each rotation of the machine andf then permits them to re-A turn to either of the'positions of Figs. 5 and 6, according to wh ther or not the pattern band presents openings underneath the respective pins 169. The detents move clockwise with the feelers to a position somewhat lower than that indicated in Fig. 5 except in case of such detents as are in engagement with shoulders 181 of vertical slides 182. A detent 'so engaged, as illustrated in Fig. 7, will maintain its position due to the friction of the parts, the spring 179'stretching at this time, and the respective positions of parts will be maintained until the rocker 132 moves all the vertical slides inward to an extent indicated by the clearance between shoulder 181 and the adjacent end of the detent. Prior to this the'paddle 171 has been released by s ca'm 17 5 so that the detents. which ,are not in engagement with shoulder 181 bear against the face directly below the shoulder and as the slides 122 are moved inward those detents corresponding to feelers which are permitted to drop to the position of Fig.6, owing t0 the presence of openings in the pattern band,

will move to the position of Fig. 6 during the time elapsing while the vertical slides are moving forward a distance corresponding to the clearance indicated in Fig.`\6 between the rdetent and the coacting shoulder. When rocker 132 now moves back counterclockwise the vertical slides and the corresponding horizontal slides are moved outward by springs 121 excepting that those slides whose detents are in the position shown in Fig. 6 can move only a distance corresponding to the slight clearance shown in said figure, after which they are held in the position of Fig. 7, as are also their corresponding horizontal slides, so that the abutments located at the same height as these respective horizontal slides will be actuated as the next cam set passes the pattern unit. y

A pattern chain 184 passes over a sprocket 185 y on the stationary shaft 151. The sprocket is driven by a ratchet 186 actuated by a pawl 187 carried by a rockarm 188 secured to or integral with a rockarm 189. An idler ratchet 186' adjacent ratchet 186 has deep and shallow teeth of lwell-known type to prevent over-frequent actuation of ratchet 186. Rockarm 189 is provided with a pin 190 positioned to rest either on an upper face` 191 or on a lower face 192 of a plate 193, said faces being connected by a cam incline. The cam plate 193 is secured t0 a. collar 194 fixed to the reciprocating bar 141, so that the sprocket will move one step at each reciprocation of said bar except as prevented by idler ratchet 186. The chain is provided on some of its links with plates 195 forengaging a lug 196 on a lever 197 pivoted at 198. At its forward end this lever is connected to a link 199 pivoted at its lower end to the L-sha-ped push bar 1137, whereby the push bar will be held out of operative relation to pin 138 when a high place on the chain engages the lug 196, at which time the rocker 132 will therefore not be actuated.` The paddle-actuating rockarm 173 carries a pin 200 (Figs. 1 and 3) in the line of movement ofthe L-shaped push bar when the same is elevated, whereby the paddle 171 will be heldin its extreme clockwise position referring to Fig. 3 or in its extreme counterclockwise position referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, so that it will hold the feelers away from the pattern, any detents which are in engagement with vertical slides 122 however remaining in such engagement by reason of the expansibility of springs 179.

The idling mechanism just described for idling the push bar 137 and the feelers serves also to idle the pawl 154 for driving the ratchet 149 due to the fact that a pin 201 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4) extends over the top of levei` 197, so that when the' lever is'raised to the position shown in Fig. 3 the pin will also lift the pawl 154 out' of engaging position with reference to its ratchet.

In making a welt on rib knitting machine it has always been c nsidered necessary to provide means at a distance from a feed for clearing the latches ofone set of needles, this set being usually the cylinder needles in a circular ribben It is of great advantage, particularly ina multiple,k feed circular ribber such as herein shown and described, to economize space on the cam ring and many expedi# ents have been proposed to this end with the result that in the larger machines the number of feeds is-now much larger than was true in earlier days for a machine of the same circumference, whereby production has been 35 I connections between' said detent and said as herelshown Ihave found that the latchclearing cam 26 and associated coacting parts may be dispensed with, thus reducing expense and saving very valuable space on the -devices herein shown and described, all Without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

-I-Iaving thus fully described my said invention, what I'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a pattern mechanism, a feeler having a projection for entering a perforation in a pattern, and a detent combined with said feeler said detent being movable with the feeler and also having movement independently thereof. 1

2. In a pattern mechanism, a pivoted feeler having means to enter a perforation or re.- cess in avpattern, a detent pivoted coaxially with the feeler, means for moving the feeler and the detent simultaneously, and resilient feeler whereby they may also be moved-independently of each other. c

3. In a pattern mechanism, a pattern band, a feeer having a pin for entering a perforation in said band, means for moving the feeler toward and from the pattern band, a selective device,'a detent movable with the feeler into or out of operativerelation to said selective device, and resilient connections between said detentand said feeler to permit the detent to remain in engagement with said selective device independently of the operation of the feeler.

4. In a pattern mechanism, a vertical series of horizontal slides having means at one end for acting on devices to be selectively controlled, a series of upright slides each' operatively connected to a horizontal slide, means for advancing said slides intermittently, means for/retaining selected slides in advanced position including a pattern band tern-controlled means for idling both of said -operated at each feed by said last-named and .feelers coacting therewith, means for movlng the feelers intermittently out of engagement with the pattern band, and patintermittently operating means.

5. In a pattern mechanism, a vertical series of horizontal slides .having means at one end for acting on devices to be selectivetions thereof into operative relation with l said feelers,'means for lifting the feelers before the band is advanced, and pattern-controlled means for idling the slide-advancing means together with the feeler-lifting means and the band-advancing means.

6. In a pattern mechanism rfor knitting machines, a series of superposed elements, a laterally-extending series of elements each having means for actuating an element of said first-named series, means for actuating all the elements of the second series intermittently whereby all the .elements of the first series arealso actuated, means for retracting all the elements of both series, and pattern-controlled means for retaining selected elements of said first series in actuated position.

7. Thatnethod of -making a selvage welt on a multiple feed independent needle rib knitting machine having a series of needles crossing another series of needles for making ribbed work comprising throwing out the yarn at a feed, holding the needles of one series inwelt position at said feed, and casting off the stitches of the other series of needles at said feed thereby stopping the knitting operation at said feed while continuing to knit at other feeds.

8. In a multiple feed independent needle rib knitting machine having rotating cylinder and dial cams at each feed and abutments connected thereto, the combination of aA perforated pattern band on the fixed machine frame` a horizontal shaft providing an axis for the band, cams on a rotating part of the machine adjacent each feed, a reciprocatory element at each feed operated by said last-named cams, connections from said reciprocatory element to .said pattern band for moving the same about said axis, and connections from the pattern band for acting on said abutments. l

9. In a multiple feed independent needle rib knitting machine having rotating cylinder and dial cams associated with yarn-guiding, yarn-cutting and yarn-clamping means at each' feed and abutments connected thereto, the combination therewith of a perforated patterrrband on the fixed machine frame, a

horizontal shaft providing an axis for the' band, cams on a rotating part of the machine adjacent each feed, a reciprocatory element the pattern band for acting on said abutments.

10. In a multiple feed independent needle rib knitting machine having rotating cylinder and dial cams associated with yarn-guiding, yarn-cutting and yarn-clamping means and abutmentsconnected thereto, the combination therewith of a perforated pattern -band on the fixed machine frame at each feed, a horizontal shaft providing an axis for the band, cams on a rotating lpart of the machine adjacent each feed', a reciprocatory element at each feed operated by said lastnamed cams, connections from said reciprocatory element to said pattern band for moving the same about said aXis, and connections from the pattern band for acting on said abutments, said connections including a series of superposed slides each having means for acting on such abutments as are at its individual level. u

11. In a multiple feed' independent needle rib knitting machine having rota-ting cylinder and dial cams'associated with yarn-guiding, yarn-cutting and yarn-clamping means ateach feed and abutm'ents connected thereto,fthe combinationtherewith of a perforated pattern band on the fixed machine frame, a horizontal shaft providing an axis for the band, cams on a rotating part of the machine adjacenteach feed, a reciprocatory element at each feed operated by said last-named cams, connections from said reciprocatory element to said pattern band for moving the same about said axis, connections from the pattern band for acting on lsaid abutments, said last-named connections including a series of superposed slides each having means for acting onsuch abutments as are at its individual level, and a series of vertical slides situated radially outward from said superposed slides, said vertical slides having abutmcnts at diferent levels to coact with individual horizontal slides.

12. In a multiple feed independent needle rib knitting machine having rotating cylinder and dial cams associated with yarnguiding, yarn-cutting and y yarn-cla Aiping means at each feed and abutments connected thereto, the combination therewith of pattern mechanism including a perforated pattern band on the fixed machine frame, a horizontal shaft providing an axis for the band, cams on a rotating part of the machine ad liacent each feed, a reciprocatory element adjacent to the pattern mechanism operated by said last-named cams, connections from said reciproca-tory element to said pattern band for moving the same about said axis, connections from the pattern band for acting on said abutments, said connections including a series of superposed slides each having means for acting on such abutments as are at its individual level, a series of vertical slides situated radially outward from said superposed slides, said vertical slides having abutments at different levels to coact with individual horizontal slides, means for advancing all the slides, and means for holding selected slides in advanced position.

13. A device as in claim 12, with means operating on a pattern mechanism between the movement of successive feeds'past the same to advance the slides, to hold selected slides advanced and to return non-selected slides to inoperative position.

14. A device as in claim 12, with means operating on a pattern mechanism between the passing of successive feeds thereby to advance the slides, to hold selected slides advanced and to return non-selected slides to inoperative position, and pattern means in connection with each pattern mechanism for intermittently preventing operation thereof While permitting previously selected slides to remaln in operative position. y

15. In a circula-r vknitting machine, a rotary cam ring, vertically-spaced selectively operable devices on said cam ring, a series of vertically-spaced elements on a stationary part of the machine, a series of elements ar 1angled circumferentially of the machine and individually related to said vertically spaced elements, means for advancing the elements of said second series toward said cam ring whereby their individually related elements in the rst series are operatively positioned for actuating said selectively operable devices, pattern-controlled means for holding selected advanced elements in advanced position, and means for retracting the advanced element-s which are not so held.

1G. In a circular knitting machine, a support rotatable. about the axis of the machine, a lined support, vertically-spaced abutments on one of said supports for controlling the knitting action, a vertical series of devices on the other support each movable into operative position for actuating an abutment at the same level therewith, a circumferential series of devices each operatively related to one of the devices of said` vertical series for moving it into operative position and hold ing it therein, and pattern mechanism for controlling the action of said devices on said amitments.

17. In a circular knitting machine, two supports having relative rotation about the axis of the machine, a vertical series of abutments on one of said supports said abutments controlling the knitting action, a vertical series of horizontally movable slides on the other support each slide being at the same level as an abutment actuated thereby, a circumferentially arranged series of devices operatively connected to individual slides for advancing the same, means for operating said devices to advance said slides to operative position, a paper pattern band moving about a horizontal axis, means for retracting the advanced slides, and detents controlled by said paper pattern band for selectively holding advanced slides in advanced position.

i8. In a multiple-feed circular' knitting machine, a cam ring having a plurality of feeds, a cam on the cam ring adjacent to each feed, a vertical series of abutments on the ring adjacent to cach feed for controlling the knitting action at said feed, pattern mechanism on the frame of the machine including a vertical series of actuators at levels corresponding to the levels of the individual abutment-s of said .se-ies, means for advancing said actuators into operative relation to said abutments, and pattern nieans operated by said cams on the cam ring for selectively maintaining said actuators in operative position relatively to the correspondingly located abutments.

19. In a multiple-feed .circular knitting machine, a cam ring having a plurality ot feeds, a cam on the cam ring adjacent to each feed, a vertical series of abutments on the ring adjacent to each feed for controlling the knitting action at said feed, pattern mechanism on the :trame of the machine including a vertical series of actuators at levels corresponding to the levels of the individual abutments oi said series, pattern means operated by the cam on the cam ring for selectively maintaining said actuators in operative position relatively to the correspondingly located abutmcnts, said pattern means including a radially movable bar, a horizontal shaft, means operated by said bar Jfor turning said shaft to move said band, means operated by said bar for advancing said actuators, and means operated by said pattern band for selectively determining the act-uators to be held in advanced position.

20. In a circular multiple-feed independent needle rib knitting machine, a stationary needle cylinder, a stationary dial, cams for cylinder and dial needles, control arms Jor varying the operation of the machine, a stack of horizontally movable elements for selectively actuat-ing said control arms, a circumferentially arranged series of upright elements cach operatively related to a horizontally movable element, mea us tor advancing all said elements toward control-arm-actuating position at each rotation ot the machine, and pattern-controlled means tor idling said last-named means.

21. In a circular multiple-feed independent needle rib knitting machine, a stationary needle cylinder, a stationary dial, cams for cylinder and dial needles, control arms for n varying the operation of the machine, a stack selectively actuating said control arms, a cir-- cumferentially arranged series of upright elements each operatively related to a horizontally movable element, means for advancing all of said elements toward control-arm-actuating position at each rotation of the machine, means for retaining selected horizontally movable elements 1n advanced position including a pattern band and feelers coacting therewith, means for advancing the band step by step, means for lifting the feelers preliminary to advancing the band, and interconnected pattern-controlled means Jfor idling the element-advancing means, the feeler-lifting means and the band-advancing means.

23. In a pattern mechanism, a pattern band movable about a horizontal axis, a vertical series of actuating devices each movable only in an individual horizontal plane, means for advancing all said actuating devices, and connections from said pattern band for holding said actuating devices in advanced position.

24. In a pattern mechanism, a pattern band movable about a horizontal axis, a vertical series of actuating slides each movable only in a horizontal plane, means for advancing all of said actuating devices together., means for retracting all of said actuating devices and connections from said pattern band for holding said actuating slides selectively in advanced position.

25. In a pattern mechanism, a pattern band movable about a horizontal axis, a vertical series of actuating` devices each movable only in a horizontal plane, means for advancing said actuating devices selectively to operative position, said connections including elements movable in vertical planes, means on each of said element for advancing one of said horizontally movable devices, and means operable by said pattern band for holding a selected. device in operative position.

Q6. In a pattern mechanism, a pattern band movable about a horizontal axis, a vertical series of actuating slides each movable in a horizontal plane only, means for advancing said actuating slides simultaneously to operative position, said connections including a set of slides movable in vertical planes only and each operatively related to a horizontally movable slide, and means operable by said pattern band for holding ac. tuating devices selectively in operative position.

27. In apattern mechanism, a series of horizontally movable elements each having an actuating abutment, a series of elements movable in vertical planes for advancing the horizontally movable elements, and lugs on the elements of one set each lug being positioned to engage an individual element only of the other set.

l5 28. In a pattern mechanism, a stack of slides each movable in a horizontal plane, an actuating abutment on each of said elements each abutment being reduced at a horizontal face to .form a cam thereon, a series of elements each movable in a vertical plane to advance a slide, and a lug on each of said lastnamed elements each lug being operatively related to a different element in said stack.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

NATHAN LEVIN. 

